With eager hands gripping shovels, dumping mulch, and reading poems, Toll Gate Grammar School first-graders helped plant more than just a redbud tree on Friday — they planted a message of stewardship and community as part of Pennington’s Arbor Day celebration.
Just down the street from their school along Curlis Avenue, students gathered to mark the occasion by continuing a beloved tradition: each year, Toll Gate’s first-grade classes help plant a tree in the neighborhood in honor of Arbor Day. The tradition, supported by Pennington Borough and the Shade Tree Commission, helps students connect with the environment in a meaningful, hands-on way.
The event began with an introduction from Pennington Borough Administrator Gian-Paolo Caminiti, who shared tree facts and asked the students questions about trees. Members of the Department of Public Works demonstrated how to prepare and plant the young redbud tree — and then invited the students to jump in. One by one, the students took turns adding soil, packing down mulch, watering the roots, and placing a gator bag around the base to help the tree stay hydrated.
Mayor Jim Davy addressed the students and praised the tradition, encouraging them to think of the tree as something they could watch grow over the years.
Afterward, students stood in front of a Tree City USA banner and read original poems they had written about trees and nature. One poem declared, “Planting trees is good for Earth. Arbor Day is here!” while another child titled their poem “The Ball” and wrote, “My gown is ready, pink blooming petals that shine, twirling at the ball.”
The Arbor Day celebration in Pennington was part of a broader effort across the Hopewell Valley Regional School District to mark Earth Week, Green Week, and Arbor Day. This year, the district partnered with Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife to plant Northern Red Oaks — New Jersey’s official state tree — at all six schools in the district. The initiative aims to beautify campuses, promote biodiversity, and connect students with native habitats.
“Healthy habitats and communities go hand-in-hand,” said Dr. Rosetta Treece, Superintendent of Hopewell Valley Regional School District. “Through projects like these, we’re working to restore our connection with the environment and to empower the next generation to be stewards of the natural world.”
Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife is currently working to certify the entire community as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat, a designation that recognizes neighborhoods and towns committed to sustainability and habitat restoration. As part of that effort, schools and individual properties throughout the Valley are being encouraged to meet certification requirements that support food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices.
photos by Seth Siditsky
